Addicks hamper Fowler's Anfield exit

They led twice at Anfield through Matt Holland and Darren Bent, and only a goal from Xabi Alonso and a late penalty from Harry Kewell denied them an unexpected chance of victory.

For Fowler, taken off two minutes from time to allow him to have a standing ovation, the chance of that penalty - which he would have taken - fell to Kewell a minute later.

The match was preceded by a noisy protest outside the main stand by Liverpool fans over the club's ticket allocation and distribution system for the European final and there were banners on the Kop making the same point.

But the chanting to honour Fowler soon took over, only to be silenced when Charlton took a shock lead as Zheng Zhi got the ball in from the right, and Holland saw a stabbed shot clip Javier Mascherano, with Daniele Padelli beaten.

Liverpool were dreadful, and Charlton got into a dangerous position again after 15 minutes, Darren Bent setting up Darren Ambrose, but the midfielder sliced wide.

It was Charlton a minute after the break who should have scored again, Zheng Zhi clean through but shooting hopelessly wide before Liverpool restored parity as Kewell crossed from the left, Dirk Kuyt headed down and Alonso lazily drove the ball home from 10 yards.

But Liverpool were soon behind again, this time when Ben Thatcher's effort was half-stopped by Padelli and Bent crashed the ball home before Majid Bougherra handled in the box and the last-gasp penalty fell to Kewell to fire home off a post.